1. Interviewing Sexual Assault Victims
Law Enforcement II

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3. First Contact with the Victim
Clearly identify yourself
Establish rapport
Use a calm, professional, confident manner
Explain what is going to happen
Express personal regret
Assure the victim that the assault was not his or her fault
Reassure the victim’s safety
Assure him or her that the officer is competent, experienced, and professional

4. Contact with the Victim
Never touch, cuddle, or unduly scrutinize the victim’s body
Offer the victim choices
Lean toward the victim in an attentive manner
Adjust your position if the victim is uncomfortable
Create a sense of privacy and remove him or her from the scene
Offer support services
Never leave the victim alone

5. Assess the Victim Note the victim’s
physical condition
physical posture and emotional state
mental acuity
Remember that the victim’s reactions may not seem normal or appropriate such as smiling, laughing, or seeming disinterested

6. Allow Time for the Medical Examination
Before the medical examination, interview the victim as briefly as possible, obtaining only facts (who, what, when, where, how) and any other necessary details
After the medical examination, allow time for the victim to change his or her clothes and to get comfortable

7. Conduct the Interview Be sympathetic, calm, and professional
Create a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere
Maintain privacy, encouraging family and friends to wait in another room
Reassure the victim that he or she is in control and can leave at anytime
Give the victim plenty of space
Protect the victim’s privacy
Obtain the victim’s consent for recording
Allow the victim to vent

8. Conduct the Interview (continued)
Lead the victim step-by-step through the assault
Do not stop and fill in gaps – instead, note the gaps and return later
Reassure the victim regularly
Use familiar terminology
Be sure to ask
Did the victim know the offender?
Did the offender have and maintain an erection?
Did the offender insert a foreign object?

9. Conduct the Interview (continued)
Ask questions about the offender’s verbal and sexual behavior
Ask the victim to report any personal items that are missing
Leave the following question for last (if relevant): Why did the victim wait to make the report?
Ask the victim about his or her sexual behaviors and hygiene
Explain HIV testing
Explain what to expect at each step of the process

10. Resources
Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education (TCLEOSE) Investigator’s Course
Texas Code of Criminal Procedure and the Family Code
Officer’s Interrogation Handbook, Matthews Bender & Company, Inc., Charlottesville, 2004
Hamilton, Cheryl. Communicating for Results. Wadsworth, Thomson Learning. U.S., 2001
Do Internet search using the following key terms:
Gastonia Officer Shot Witness Interview Part 2
Nathan’s Interrogation Video